Ello!
So, this chapter, Sandstorm finally has her devil spawn…I mean, kitties.
Amandald98, thanks for telling me about the POV stuff. I'll try to improve my POVs and make them a bit…spicier? Something like that.
So, here comes anger and kits and angry kits!
5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!
Firestar knew he should go outside to where ThunderClan and WindClan both were gathering by the Highrock. He knew Tallstar didn't want to start the meeting without him. You're a leader, for crying out loud. Get your ginger butt out there, his mind kept telling him.
But he couldn't get rid of the angry red daze blinding him. Fury flooded his veins, and he unsheathed his claws, making long grooves in the ground beneath him. Hatred for Tigerstar was the only thing he felt right now. Never had he detested the dark tabby like this, not even when Tigerstar had tried to annihilate ThunderClan via dog pack.
Rip his throat out.
Sandstorm could be dead right now, and it was because of the most evil cat that ever walked the forest and dishonored the name of the Clans.
You mouse-brained fool.
"Spottedleaf," he wailed. "Why didn't you tell me? You knew, you knew!"
A slight brush against his fur. I'm sorry.
"Firestar?" Tallstar padded through the lichen that formed the entrance of the leader's den. "We're ready to start the meeting." His voice radiated sympathy with a firm edge.
Firestar took a deep breath and let go of his anger for the time being. "Coming." He turned and followed the black-and-white WindClan leader out into the gathering area—the center of the ThunderClan camp. Both of them ascended the Highrock, and immediately all eyes were on them.
Featherpaw sat in the middle of the mass of cats, not siding with either of the two gathered Clans. She turned her sad, blue eyes on Firestar's angry green ones. Please save my brother and father.
As soon as Firestar began to speak, the chattering died down and every cat listened.
"You all know why we stand here today." An encouraging smile from Tallstar. "Tigerstar has captured many cats."
Outraged yowls broke out.
"Rip his head off!"
"He captured Onewhisker! He must be killed!"
"Stealing our medicine cat! That's unforgivable!"
"Get rid of him, once and for all!"
"QUIET!" In his anger, Firestar yelled louder and harsher than he meant. "I mean—could you please listen?" He took another deep breath. "Tigerstar has captured numerous cats, including innocent Rainkit."
Willowpelt let out a wail of grief, fearing that her kit was dead. (A/N: I know I haven't mentioned Rainkit in SO long, but just to let you know, he's being cared for by a RiverClan queen. Featherpaw doesn't know where he is, so they all think he's dead. BUT HE'S NOT! Just saying.)
Firestar comforted the grieving mother. "Don't worry. We'll find him. We'll find them all." He swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat and the burning sensation in his eyes. He found it was harder to talk. He might never get Sandstorm back.
Tallstar understood and took over. "We must fight Tigerstar and rescue these captured cats. With Featherpaw on our side, an insider, we will be able to overthrow TigerClan and restore the forest to normal again."
Cheers sounded in Firestar's ears.
Whitestorm stepped forward. "Firestar, Tallstar, I would be honored to help in this rescue mission." He dipped his head respectfully.
Firestar gave his deputy a nod in return. "Thank you, Whitestorm."
After Whitestorm volunteered, many others began to as well, until all their talking became a distant buzzing in Firestar's ears.
He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
And little did he know that something was.
OoOoOoO
Tigerstar paced in his den. "When is she going to come?"
Blood reassured his leader. "She said moonhigh, so soon."
Tigerstar growled. He hated lateness. "I hope she lives up to her reputation. Maul spoke highly of her."
"She's never failed in any mission given to her," Blood meowed. "Every cat returned, a perfect record."
Tigerstar didn't respond. He laid his head on his paws and flicked his tail irritably. As the seconds turned into long minutes, he grew more and more annoyed. Any cat to deceive him would pay the price.
At last, Runningnose poked his head in the den. "Tigerstar, you have a visitor."
"It's about time. Let her in."
He narrowed his eyes as a brown tabby she-cat stalked into the den. Her blue-gray eyes were like chips of ice—cold, hard, and emotionless.
"You're Tawny?"
The she-cat nodded. "Tigerstar?"
"Yes…Blood, could you leave?" Tigerstar motioned to him to get out.
Blood did so, and Tigerstar took another look at this newcomer, Tawny. She was skinny, but he could see lean muscles under her coat. Good. She wasn't weak. Her pelt was spotless, with the exception of one scar running across her right eye.
"What do you want me for?" Tawny asked.
"I heard you're a tracker. That you can pick up the scent of any cat and track them down."
Tawny nodded. "Been my life for's long as I can remember. Depending on how many you want me to find and the urgency, I can find 'em. Never failed yet."
"There's two. Well, only one is my priority, but I think they're both together, and I'd appreciate a package deal. Their names are Sandstorm and Sasha. Sandstorm's the one I want. She escaped about a half moon ago."
"Hmm…two preferably, a half moon. I can get 'em, but I've got to be paid somethin' in advance. What do you have for me?"
"For Sandstorm…" Tigerstar growled. "I'd give anything. Hunting rights in TigerClan territory for two moons and the ability to come and go as you please."
Tawny nodded, secretly pleased. This was a better offer than what she would have expected. "I'll take it. Now show me where I can get a whiff of their scent."
Tigerstar nodded and led the tracker outside in the direction of the forest where Sandstorm and Sasha's bramble den had been. "This is where they lived."
Tawny gave it a disgusted look. "Horrible nests, no protection against cold, stench of fear…you keepin' prisoners in here, Tigerstar?"
She had caught him off guard, and he unsheathed his claws. "You have no right to accuse me—"
Tawny laughed. "Don't get your tail in a twist. I don't care if you killed cats here, kept 'em prisoner, or worshiped them. I only wanna get paid for finding 'em. Don't care if my employer is good or bad, so long as he don't kill me."
"Oh." Tawny was unlike any cat Tigerstar had ever met. No alliance, just greed.
Tawny was sniffing the nests, grasping the scent. "Who's scent's who's?"
"The one that smells like sweet herbs is Sandstorm's…the other is Sasha's." Tigerstar wished more than anything that he had Sandstorm next to him again, but not looking at him with fear and disgust.
Tawny nodded. "Gotcha. So, when'd they escape again?"
"They didn't escape," Tigerstar growled gritting his teeth. "I wasn't keeping them prisoner. They had free will."
"Then why you sending me to go find 'em, if they've got that free will you're talking 'bout? Sounds like they don't want to come back."
Tigerstar hissed, the fur on the back on his neck standing up. He unsheathed his claws.
Tawny saw that he was getting all worked up, the way she liked to tease others. "You're gettin' madder than a snake being poked by a Twoleg." She laughed.
Tigerstar frowned. "They left about a half moon ago. It was a…misunderstanding. We fought. They left. I want them back so I can…apologize."
Tawny now gave him the look one might give an ignorant kit. "I jus' told you I don't care if you're good or bad. Murderer or lover, so long as you pay me I'm good."
A nod. "So when are you going to have them back?"
"Half moon in the least. Two moons max, but I'd be appalled if it took me that long."
"Nice doing business with you, Tawny."
"Same to you, Tigerstar."
Without another word the tracker slinked off, her pelt blending into the shadows.
OoOoOoO
"Amberleaf, are you going to eat that mouse?"
It had been three quarter moons (three weeks) since the escaped Guard trainees, Sandstorm, and Sasha had joined Hawkshadow's little family. They had grown close, all ten of them, and had formed something like a small Clan—"WantedClan" as Hawkshadow affectionately called it, on account of Tigerstar wanting all their blood.
Hawkshadow was of course the unofficial but unanimous leader, and spent quite a bit of time away keeping a sharp eye out for any TigerClan guards sent their way. He would usually leave a bit after dawn, return at noon, then leave again, returning an hour or so later
Skywing was at first wary of all the newcomers, but she eventually warmed up to them and now had chosen to become Sandstorm's temporary caretaker, teaching her the many ways of kits and their upbringing. And the information was much needed, as Sandstorm's kits were due any day now. She was getting rounder and rounder, and had taken to staying in the makeshift camp.
Right now they—minus Snakeeyes, who was still sleeping—were sitting down to a morning meal of mice and voles. The three kits ate in a hurry, now used to the taste of solid food, and distracted the others with squeals and laughs from their game of Rat Attack. Heatherkit always took the role of noble Clan leader, while Reedkit, as the smallest of the litter, got stuck playing the rat.
"I apologize for my kits," Skywing sighed. Yet her eyes showed affection as she glanced at the rambunctious young cats.
"It's quite all right," Sasha told her, her eyes showing the same affection with a hint of wistfulness.
Sandstorm felt a pang of guilt when she remembered that Sasha had always wanted kits but never had any. And here she was, small lives kicking inside her, and she was still ungrateful. I will try not to despise them, she thought.
As if on cue, one of the kits decided to thank her by kicking her, hard, against her ribcage.
For that you're going to be grounded once more than your siblings, Sandstorm told it silently.
"Are you going to eat that mouse?" Jaggedwing repeated.
Amberleaf looked up from the fresh mouse carcass, which she'd been pondering thoughtfully. "No, I don't think so. Here." She hooked it on her claw and tossed it to her friend.
Snakeeyes chose that moment to appear, yawning. "Sorry I'm late. Any prey left?"
Sasha shook her head. "Sorry. Jaggedwing's a big eater."
Jaggedwing shrugged, unapologetic. "Well, you didn't seem to be that hungry."
"I was asleep!" Snakeeyes protested.
"And that's my fault how?"
Snakeeyes rolled her eyes. "Who wants to come hunting with me?"
"I will," Amberleaf volunteered.
Sasha also said yes, and then attention was drawn to Sandstorm when she did the same.
"You need to stay in camp," Skywing protested. "Your kits are due soon."
"Nothing's happened today," Sandstorm meowed. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
Skywing didn't look so sure. "Kits can come at any time—"
"For StarClan's sake, Skywing, you're not the medicine cat, nor her mother," Hawkshadow interrupted. When his mate glared at him, he smiled reassuringly and told her, "Sandstorm will be fine."
Skywing nodded, but not happily. "Go on, then. Get some fresh air."
"Thanks," Sandstorm yelled over her shoulder as she and the other three padded away in search of prey.
!#$%^&
As the sun rose and heat began to prick at all their fur, Amberleaf suddenly heard the crunching of leaves that meant squirrel. "Yes!" She ran after it in a flurry of paws and tail.
The others raced after her, aware that she was heading into unknown territory. "Amberleaf! Come back!"
As Sandstorm's paws thudded against the ground, she started slowing and panting because of the heat and extra weight she was carrying. "Hey!" she called. "Wait!"
Only Sasha heard her. The she-cat returned to her friend, concerned. "What is it?"
Sandstorm was about to reply, "Just tired," when a sharp pang hit her inside. The pure impact of it made her cry in pain, and the pain rippled down her spine. Then came another.
Sasha had been around a pregnant queen before, and recognized these ominous signs. Great StarClan, why now? It seems like Skywing knew this would happen.
"Sandstorm," she managed to get out, "I think you're going into labor."
Sandstorm looked at her, shocked. Then she chose to spit out a few very colorful phrases, the most tame of which was, "Fox dung."
Right in the middle of insulting Tigerstar's mother, another contraction came, and she gasped in pain again. Sasha was starting to fear for her friend. She calculated what would be safer—to take Sandstorm to Skywing, or to bring Skywing to Sandstorm. She decided on the former, as it would be faster. "Sandstorm, get up and lean against me. I'm going to take you back to camp." She nudged her friend up and they began the long trek back to camp.
"I HATE YOU!" Sandstorm shrieked when they were about halfway there.
"I'm sorry!" Sasha cried. "I'm trying to help!"
"Not YOU!" Sandstorm shouted. "The heap of dung Tigerstar! When I get a hold of him, I'm going to…" She went on to list several ways that she would kill Tigerstar when she next saw him. They included feeding him to ravenous dogs, getting him speared in the gorge by rocks, violently attacked by rats, and dead from slow, agonizing blood loss, preferably in the tummy area.
Sasha couldn't help but to smile a bit at the last one, but the smile turned to horror as Sandstorm suddenly dropped on the ground, unconscious, several fox-leaps from the camp. "SANDSTORM!" Sasha screamed. She raced towards the camp, now shouting, "SKYWING! SKYWING!"
Skywing appeared around a tree trunk, her eyes wide with fear. "Is it Sandstorm?"
Sasha nodded, and Skywing ran with her to the spot where Sandstorm lay, seeming asleep. Skywing shook her shoulder with a paw. "She's unconscious. Come on, we can both support her to my den." They got Sandstorm sort-of-standing pressed between them. With shaky steps, they got her to the camp and laid her down in one of the mossy nests.
Skywing's kits popped in with curious looks, and Sasha had to shoo them away.
"Are Jaggedwing and Hawkshadow gone?" Sasha asked.
Skywing nodded but didn't say anything. She was trying to restore Sandstorm to consciousness as contractions rippled down the she-cat's body. "Come on, Sandstorm, wake up, wake up."
Sandstorm's eyes finally fluttered open, and she yowled in pain.
"Sandstorm! Are you okay?" Sasha asked.
"No! Fox dung! I'm in so much pain I could rip Tigerstar's head off!" Sandstorm yowled again.
"Sandstorm, calm down! There's a kit coming!"
His kit. Not mine.
Sandstorm screeched louder than ever as a small, wet bundle slipped out.
Skywing nipped it open so the kit could breathe. Sasha gasped in wonder. "It's a girl, Sandstorm! You have a daughter!"
Sandstorm didn't hear. She was barely conscious now.
The kit squealed as Sasha licked her, frantically trying to warm the newborn up.
"I think there's only one more coming," Skywing assessed, feeling Sandstorm's heaving belly with a paw.
One more contraction, and the second and last kit breathed its first breath of air. It was a tom.
As the pain lessened, Sandstorm was able to move and see her newborn kits. Sasha showed her the she-kit first. Sandstorm's daughter looked like her mother, just darker. She had golden tabby fur, which Sandstorm supposed was the result of her ginger coat and Tigerstar brown one. Another noticeable feature was her triangular shaped face.
As she mewed—loudly—Sasha asked, "What are you going to name her?"
Sandstorm smiled softly. "She reminds me of my mother's mother, Mothpelt. So I think I'll call her…Mothkit."
Mothkit squealed until Sasha gently nudged her to Sandstorm's belly, where the kit latched on, purring.
Skywing brought over the tom.
Sandstorm's heart skipped a beat, and she gasped in horror.
The tom looked exactly like him.
Tigerstar.
The same dark brown tabby coat, the same broad shoulders, and even longer than normal claws when the tiny tom stretched his paws.
"He looks just like Tigerstar," Sasha mewed softly.
Sandstorm felt an uncomfortable feeling rising up inside her. It would have been so much easier not to feel resentment if one of her kits had not been an exact copy of the cat she hated so much.
"What do you want to name him?" Sasha asked.
Deathkit. Torturekit. Evilkit. Betrayalkit.
As the screech of a hawk sounded above, all three older she-cats yelped and Skywing rushed outside to make sure her own kits were safe.
Hawks. Ominous, cruel, killing creatures.
"His name will be Hawkkit," Sandstorm meowed. She drew her son to her belly with her tail.
As both son and daughter drew in their first experiences of life, Sandstorm looked at them.
Tigerstar's kits.
Please, StarClan. Don't let him turn out like his father.
…
So, the mystery of Sandstorm's kits has been solved. I wonder if any of you can guess NOW what will happen to the kits, from the clues I've provided in the story so far.
And if you don't know WHO the kits are, then, no offense, you're really mousebrained. Unless you haven't read past The Darkest Hour. Then I forgive you.
So, please review and let me know what you think of this twist on the story. Some of you were thinking that Squirrelflight and Leafpool would be the kits. They couldn't be, though, because they were born about six moons after Tigerstar died. I know this story isn't canon, but still…Plus, even if there was a possibility that I could have made Squirrel and Leaf Tigerstar's kids, I wouldn't have, because Squirrelflight is Brambleclaw's mate and that would have been incest in the Warrior's World! Yeah, I know…gross.
Next, an army gathers on both sides, the prisoners experience some grief, Sasha suspects that someone's watching them, and Sandstorm has some second thoughts on life.
Anyway, see ya later!
~poof~